Afternoon News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on November 30, 2020
Governor Cuomo is worried that the covid cases will continue to climb as we go into flu season and the winter months and is outlining new strategies to fight the spread of the virus. One new idea is that all hospitals in the state must, effective immediately, identify retired nurses and doctors and be ready to press them into service if there is a shortage. Also hospitals are ordered to increase their capacity by at least 50 percent. Cuomo stressed that testing materials need to be handed out in a racially equitable manner although he didn’t specify what this means. Schools k-8 will be kept open as long as possible as the science doesn’t seem to show covid spreading in schools or between children. The state is putting out a public information campaign to address people gathering in homes and in small groups. Bars, restaurants and hair salons are not showing as vectors for viral spread so the focus switches to homes and parties. The information campaign will encourage people not to gather and to put others first. Cuomo announced that Erie county hospitals will stop elective surgeries on Friday.
It wasn’t just the wind. The Batavia First Presbyterian Church sign that reads “God Loves Everyone, No Exceptions” in rainbow letters keeps getting knocked down by vandals and the church would like your help finding the culprit. It happens at night and police and members have yet to catch the person or persons in the act. Batavia city police are stepping up nighttime drive-by’s to try and protect the sign.
